LUCKNOW, Oct. 1 -- The Congress avoided a direct comment on the Samajwadi Party fielding senior corporate executive Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress and the SP fought the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections in alliance and are expected to be partners in the 2027 assembly elections too. Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhna Mishra and Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai refused to comment on the development, saying it was a decision taken by the SP. "During the entire day, the top leadership (of the Congress) was busy with the INDIA bloc India alliance meeting. The party leadership has asked leaders in the state to avoid making statements for now," a senior Congress leader said. "Perhaps, a meeting will be held in Delhi on the decision (by the SP) and a call will be taken on Nathwani's nomination, following which further developments will unfold. But this won't hurt the alliance," an office bearer said. htc...